War Vets Demand More Land
27/09/2010 12:49:00
Bulawayo, September 27, 2010 – War veterans who were allocated land in Bubi
District, Matabeleland North Province, are demanding more land, saying they
were allocated small portions during the 2000 land grabs.
District chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans
Association (ZNLWVA) in Nkayi, Michael Tshaliba, who was resettled in Bubi,
said the sizes of land allocated to most of them were too small as they were
resettled under the villagised A1 scheme.
They are now appealing to the government to allocate them bigger portions of
land under the A2 commercial farm resettlement scheme.
“We have been resettled in villages in Bubi and the portions we received are
too little for some of us who have bigger families,” said Tshaliba in an
interview.
“We had always wanted to be given A2 farms or plots rather than being
treated like anyone because war vets fought for the land and we deserve
special treatment than everyone.
“We want enough land and appeal to our leaders to take this matter seriously
and urge them to identify and allocate us enough land. As it is there is no
future in those small portions that we got and there is no sufficient space
for our children to build their own homes.”
ZNLWVA chairman, Jabulani Sibanda confirmed that war veterans in Nkayi are
demanding more land.
“We are aware of their complaints and their concerns are genuine,” said
Sibanda.
“War veterans were on the forefront of the land reform exercise and it is
unfortunate that no one from that area was allocated A2 pieces and most of
them were put on villages.”
Tshaliba also raised concern over delays in the payment of school fees under
the educational support scheme for war veterans’ children.
“Our children are sent away from school because the government’s education
support for war vets is always delayed and it is very difficult to trace
those monies.”